John Fletcher - The Maids Tragedy

Amin . I will not swear sweet Love,
Till I do know the cause.

Evad . I would thou wouldst;
Why, it is thou that wrongest me, I hate thee,
Thou shouldst have kill'd thy self.

Amint . If I should know that, I should quickly kill
The man you hated.

Evad . Know it then, and do't.

Amint . Oh no, what look soe're thou shalt put on,
To try my faith, I shall not think thee false;
I cannot find one blemish in thy face,
Where falsehood should abide: leave and to bed;
If you have sworn to any of the Virgins
That were your old companions, to preserve
Your Maidenhead a night, it may be done without this
means.

Evad . A Maidenhead Amintor at my years?

Amint . Sure she raves, this cannot be
Thy natural temper; shall I call thy maids?
Either thy healthful sleep hath left thee long,
Or else some Fever rages in thy blood.

Evad . Neither Amintor ; think you I am mad,
Because I speak the truth?

Amint . Will you not lie with me to night?

Evad . To night? you talk as if I would hereafter.

Amint . Hereafter? yes, I do.

Evad . You are deceiv'd, put off amazement, and with patience mark
What I shall utter, for the Oracle
Knows nothing truer, 'tis not for a night
Or two that I forbear thy bed, but for ever.

Amint . I dream,—awake Amintor !

Evad . You hear right,
I sooner will find out the beds of Snakes,
And with my youthful blood warm their cold flesh,
Letting them curle themselves about my Limbs,
Than sleep one night with thee; this is not feign'd,
Nor sounds it like the coyness of a Bride.

Amin . Is flesh so earthly to endure all this?
Are these the joyes of Marriage? Hymen keep
This story (that will make succeeding youth
Neglect thy Ceremonies) from all ears.
Let it not rise up for thy shame and mine
To after ages; we will scorn thy Laws,
If thou no better bless them; touch the heart
Of her that thou hast sent me, or the world
Shall know there's not an Altar that will smoak
In praise of thee; we will adopt us Sons;
Then vertue shall inherit, and not blood:
If we do lust, we'l take the next we meet,
Serving our selves as other Creatures do,
And never take note of the Female more,
Nor of her issue. I do rage in vain,
She can but jest; Oh! pardon me my Love;
So dear the thoughts are that I hold of thee,
That I must break forth; satisfie my fear:
It is a pain beyond the hand of death,
To be in doubt; confirm it with an Oath, if this be true.

Evad . Do you invent the form:
Let there be in it all the binding words
Devils and Conjurers can put together,
And I will take it; I have sworn before,
And here by all things holy do again,
Never to be acquainted with thy bed.
Is your doubt over now?

Amint . I know too much, would I had doubted still;
Was ever such a marriage night as this!
You powers above, if you did ever mean
Man should be us'd thus, you have thought a way
How he may bear himself, and save his honour:
Instruct me in it; for to my dull eyes
There is no mean, no moderate course to run,
I must live scorn'd, or be a murderer:
Is there a third? why is this night so calm?
Why does not Heaven speak in Thunder to us,
And drown her voice?

Evad . This rage will do no good.

Amint . Evadne , hear me, thou hast ta'ne an Oath,
But such a rash one, that to keep it, were
Worse than to swear it; call it back to thee;
Such vows as those never ascend the Heaven;
A tear or two will wash it quite away:
Have mercy on my youth, my hopeful youth,
If thou be pitiful, for (without boast)
This Land was proud of me: what Lady was there
That men call'd fair and vertuous in this Isle,
That would have shun'd my love? It is in thee
To make me hold this worth—Oh! we vain men
That trust out all our reputation,
To rest upon the weak and yielding hand
Of feeble Women! but thou art not stone;
Thy flesh is soft, and in thine eyes doth dwell
The spirit of Love, thy heart cannot be hard.
Come lead me from the bottom of despair,
To all the joyes thou hast; I know thou wilt;
And make me careful, lest the sudden change
O're-come my spirits.

Evad . When I call back this Oath, the pains of hell inviron me.

Evad . Why so perhaps they are.

Amint . I'le drag thee to my bed, and make thy tongue
Undo this wicked Oath, or on thy flesh
I'le print a thousand wounds to let out life.

Evad . I fear thee not, do what thou dar'st to me;
Every ill-sounding word, or threatning look
Thou shew'st to me, will be reveng'd at full.

Amint . It will not sure Evadne .

Evad . Do not you hazard that.

Amint . Ha'ye your Champions?

Evad . Alas Amintor , thinkst thou I forbear
To sleep with thee, because I have put on
A maidens strictness? look upon these cheeks,
And thou shalt find the hot and rising blood
Unapt for such a vow; no, in this heart
There dwels as much desire, and as much will
To put that wisht act in practice, as ever yet
Was known to woman, and they have been shown
Both; but it was the folly of thy youth,
To think this beauty (to what Land soe're
It shall be call'd) shall stoop to any second.
I do enjoy the best, and in that height
Have sworn to stand or die: you guess the man.

Amint . No, let me know the man that wrongs me so,
That I may cut his body into motes,
And scatter it before the Northern wind.

Evad . You dare not strike him.

Amint . Do not wrong me so;
Yes, if his body were a poysonous plant,
That it were death to touch, I have a soul
Will throw me on him.

Evad . Why 'tis the King.

Amint . The King!

Evad . What will you do now?

Amint . 'Tis not the King.

Evad . What, did he make this match for dull Amintor ?

Amint . Oh! thou hast nam'd a word that wipes away
All thoughts revengeful: in that sacred name,
The King, there lies a terror: what frail man
Dares lift his hand against it? let the Gods
Speak to him when they please;
Till then let us suffer and wait.

Evad . Why should you fill your self so full of heat,
And haste so to my bed? I am no Virgin.